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10 Nigerians You Didn’t Know Were  Guinness World  Record Holders

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Picture showing Mode9, a Nigerian hip hop rapper and Guinness World Record holder

There has never been a bigger frenzy about the Guinness World Records than when Hilda Baci attempted it in 2023. Hilda’s GWR was not just a win for her, it was a harbinger of many more records for Africans, particularly, Nigerians. It sort of jolted people out of a dream and made them realize; “If Hilda can do it, so can I.” 

Beyond the recent GWR holders like Fola David, Brian and Israel, Nigeria has had a crop of its citizens break existing records and set new ones. Here’s a list of Nigerians you didn’t know were in the Guinness Book of Records. 

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

Picture showing the late afrobeats legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian Guinness World Record holder

The late Nigerian music (Afrobeats) legend and activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, holds the Guinness World Record for the most studio album recordings released. 

He achieved this huge milestone when he recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of his solo career which lasted for 23 years.

Stephen Keshi

Picture showing Stephen Keshi, a Nigerian Guinness World Record holder

Stephen Okechukwu Keshi CON was a Nigerian football player and manager. During his playing career, Keshi played as a defender and earned 60 caps for the Nigeria national team, making him the nation’s second-most capped player at the time of his retirement. 

He also holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach.

Mode 9

Picture showing Mode 9, a Nigerian rapper and a Guinness World Record holder

Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, popularly known as Mode9, is a British-born Nigerian rapper who has won nine Headies: Best Rap Album (Malcolm IX – The Lost Sessions, 2004), Best Rap Single (“Cry”, 2007), and seven “Lyricist on the Roll” awards (2006–11 and 2013). 

He holds the Guinness World Records for the most Headies won.

Bayo Omoboriowo

Picture showing Bayo Omoboriowo, an award-winning Nigerian photographer and Guinness World Record holder

Bayo Omoboriowo is a Nigerian photojournalist and documentary photographer. He was the official photographer to President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Bayo is the author of several books, including Discover Nigeria, an extensive photo and text documentary on Nigeria’s people, places, and culture. 

In 2021, Discover Nigeria set a Guinness World Record for the largest photobook, measuring 60.84 square metres.

Wizkid

Picture showing Wizkid, a popular Nigerian artist and Guinness World Record holder

The commander of the Wizkid FC, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, isn’t left out on the list of Nigerian GWR holders. 

He holds a Guinness World Record for being the artist with the first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify. He was able to hit this mark following his collaboration with Drake on the hit single “One Dance” in December 2016., which reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 14 additional countries. 

Flora Ugwunwa

Picture showing Flora Ugwunwa, a Nigerian athlete and GWR holder

She is a Nigerian Paralympic athlete competing in F54-classification events. She represented Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and she won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw F54 event. 

She also set a new world record of 20.25m at this event. This earned her a spot in the GWR hall of fame as a record holder for the farthest female F54 javelin throw in 2016.

DJ Yin

Picture showing DJ Yin, a Nigerian Guinness World Record holder

Oyinka Asu-Johnson, professionally known as DJ Yin, is a Nigerian-based DJ, singer and songwriter. 

She broke the world record for the longest DJ set in October 2021 where she operated her set for 243 hours and 30 minutes at The Grill by Yanna, Ikoyi, Lagos. 

The record was previously held by a Nigerian, DJ Obi, when he performed for 230 hours at the Sao Cafe in Lagos, Nigeria.

Paul Kehinde

Picture showing Paul Kehinde, a Nigerian athlete and GWR holder

Paul Kehinde was a Nigerian Para powerlifter. He was born in Epe, in Lagos state, Nigeria. He competed in the men’s 65 kg class and also occasionally in the 72 kg class. 

In December 2018, Paul Kehinde set a Guinness World Record for the heaviest para power lift by a male in the -65 kg category: 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), breaking his previous world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.

Rema 

Picture showing Rema, a Nigerian musician who is a GWR holder

Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema (Rave Lord), made history in May 2023 as the first artist to top the MENA charts, setting a new Guinness Book of Records. 

His song ‘Calm Down’ secured the first number 1 hit on the world’s first regional streaming chart and first-ever official chart in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), making him a GWR holder. 

Tobi Amusan

Picture showing Tobi Amusan, a Nigerian GWR holder

Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan, popularly known as Tobi Amusan, OON is a Nigerian track and field athlete specializing in the 100 meters hurdles and also competing as a sprinter.

In 2022, Tobi Amusan set the record for the fastest female 100-metre hurdle at 12.12 seconds at the athletics championships in Oregon and made the Guinness World Book record for it. 

Her record remains unbroken till date. 

If you’d like to see more interesting things and learn facts about different topics, join the “Random” community on Fusion  

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  3. Howzat? The clamour to legalise sports wagering in IndiaPublished5 February 2016Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBy Sameer HashmiMumbai Business press reporterIt is the last over of the cricket match, with India requiring 17 runs to win against Australia.In his two-bedroom house located in main Mumbai, a middle-aged male is seeing the game, nervously. He’s resting on the edge of his grey colour couch with his mobile phone glued to his right-hand man.He has made more than 10 employ the last thirty minutes – not to go over the match however to keep modifying his bet.Five minutes previously his cash was on Australia, now as the Indian batsman prepares yourself to face the last over he’s changed his mind.“I think India is winning, make the change,” he tells his bookie on the phone.And a few minutes later his forecast becomes a reality, as India wins the match in a nail-biting finish.“I have made $200 today,” he states with a childlike glee.For more than 3 years he’s been betting on cricket matches. We can’t reveal his name as what he’s doing is prohibited in India.Aside from horse racing, sports wagering of any kind is not allowed India. Despite that, unlawful betting syndicates grow in the country.‘Black cash’According to the Doha-based International Centre for Sports Security, India’s prohibited sports wagering market deserves some $150bn a year. And much of that gambling cash is directed towards cricket.Without any legal opportunity, punters place bets using their phones by making calls to bookmakers. Gamblers can wager on anything related to the cricket match, from who is winning to the greatest individual run scorer.The majority of these deals involve so-called “black cash”, which is money not stated to the taxman.The 1867 Public Gambling Act bars any type of gaming in India, however unlike in the US which has a law restricting web gaming, there is nothing comparable here.And offshore betting companies are using this loophole to tempt Indians. Although there are no online wagering operators based out of India, a lot individuals have signed up accounts with offshore firms.“Legally you can escape [with this], as the law is unclear for online gaming,” says Mumbai- based lawyer HP Ranina.But despite this, it is “offline gaming”, done through call which control the market.Require legalisationThe clamour to legalise betting in cricket has grown after a panel designated by India’s Supreme Court proposed the idea, saying it would help clamp down on corruption in the nation’s preferred sport.The Justice RM Lodha Commission was set up to suggest changes in the performance of India’s cricket regulative body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), after the 2013 Indian Premier League wagering scandal emerged.Two franchises have actually been banned for 2 years after some players and team authorities were discovered guilty of fixing parts of the match at the wish of bookmakers.The panel likewise argues that legalised wagering will bring in tax profits for the exchequer that could total up to $2bn a year.Even gamblers feel that legalising sports wagering is a relocation in the best direction.“I do not mind paying some cash out my profits, as long as I can bet openly,” says our cricket gambler.It would likewise open a huge business opportunity for licensed bookmakers and international online betting business to establish operations in India.And it would help limit match fixing in cricket and other sports, argue many, by helping make deals included in gambling more transparent.“If you work alongside wagering companies, you will have a really efficient technique of stamping out match fixing,” says George Oborne, who runs a mock betting website, India Bet.But many likewise think, that the taxes imposed on the bettor and the bookie will have to be sensible to make it attractive enough for them to gamble legally.However, there are constraints.“Definitely there will be illegal betting because (some) people would not desire to leave an audit path by entering the white market,” states Mr Oborne.He adds that individuals who use unaccounted cash to place big bets will never ever gamble lawfully.Approval concernFor sports betting to be legalised, parliamentary approval will be needed to develop a brand-new law, and politically this will be a difficult concept to offer.“Even however lots of people are involved in some sort of gaming – it’s still a controversial issue for lots of,” says our unnamed punter.And considered that India has a federal structural – each state will need to also pass a separate law to legalise sports betting in their area.“The procedure is so long and tricky that it will take years,” states Mr Ranina.”That’s why, we are negative about this coming true anytime soon.”Yet with the concept having been backed by an official panel for the very first time, at least an argument has actually sparked around a topic – which previously was thought about a taboo.

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